Pontypool police officers confiscated alcohol and made two arrests while conducting anti-social behaviour patrols last Friday (28th January).
Around 150 youths gathered in Abersychan on Friday evening, with a minority committing crime and anti-social behaviour.
Officers from Pontypool Neighbourhood Policing Team, who were already on patrol in the area, were joined by Gwent Police Support Group colleagues to deal with the groups of teenagers.
Officers confiscated around 50 litres of alcohol during the evening and arrested two men in their late teens – one for a public order offence and one for assault.
Youngsters who had alcohol were stopped had their names and addresses taken and officers will send letters to their parents warning of their behaviour.
After the police response no calls reporting antisocial behaviour were received in the Abersychan area, although neighbourhood officers continued to patrol.
Sergeant Clive Elliot, of Pontypool Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Anti-social behaviour is a PACT (Partners and Communities Together) priority in Abersychan and the majority of wards in Torfaen, so we are working hard to address this problem in response to what residents have told us.
“We regularly confiscate alcohol from young people and this reduces the chance of them going on to behave antisocially.
“We tackle this issue from all possible angles, targeting not just the children found in possession of alcohol but just as importantly those adults who are supplying them.”
Sgt Elliot stressed that such coordinated patrols will continue to take place across Torfaen and warned that underage drinkers are not the only police target when it comes to dealing with alcohol-related issues.
He said: “We issue £80 fixed penalty fines to adults who give alcohol to Under-18s to drink on the streets.
“We work very closely with local shopkeepers, Trading Standards, the council’s CCTV department, and Torfaen Youth Service when dealing with underage drinking and anti-social behaviour.”
If you would like to report incidents of anti-social behaviour, please contact Gwent Police on 101 or visit the website at www.gwent.police.uk to find contact details for your local ward policing team.
